This lovely folk song is thought to have its roots in the early 19th century, where it was popular amongst the itinerant, fur traders who travelled the Missouri river between the northern US and Canada. By the mid 19th century it had travelled south to the Mississippi river, where it was sung as a sea shanty.
As with all orally transmitted folk songs, there are many different versions of the lyrics, although they all mention 'the wide Missouri... you rolling river'. One well-known variant refers to a trader who fell in love with the Oneida chief Shenandoah's daughter and wanted to marry her.
This particular arrangement borrows ideas from both Miles Davis and Bill Evans to re-interpret the song as a jazz ballad.
A transcription of this piece can be obtained here: tamsindearnley...
www.tamsindear...
3 окт 2024
